Method for handling small articles



Feb. 16, 1965 L. GORAN, JR 3,169,308

METHOD FOR HANDLING SMALL ARTICLES Filed July 20, 1959 El y ml INVEN TOR.

LEO GORAN \R.

W i flu? JIM FINN G. OLSEN ATTORNEY United States Patent 0 3,169,358 FGR HANDLING SMALL ARTJWLES Madison Heights, Mich, assigner, by means assignments, to Avis industrial orporation, Betroit, M ch. a corporation of Delaware duly 2%, i959, Ser. No. 828,143 a (Ilaims. or. 29-4 2 9 The present invention relates to a method for receiving small coil springs and similar articles from a coil spring forming or dispensing machine for storage, transportation or subsequent assembly operations, and for introducing such articles automatically into products requiring their presence,

in the manufacture of such products as coil springs, the normal procedure is to deposit the newly formed coil springs in containers where they generally become inter locked causing subsequent difficulty in disengaging them. In production operations, workers are then required to disengage the coil springs and feed them singly to workpieces where the springs are required. This is particularly true in the manufacture of such products as locks of the type having key plugs wherein coil springs are used in chambers housing the plurality of lock pins.

One of the objects of the present invention is to overcome the handling and storage problems that exist in connection with prior methods of forming and using coil springs and the hire, and to provi e a method whereby the coil springs are assembled in aligned positions in flexible containers for transportation, storage and subsequent feeding operations, thereby substantially reducing handling operations in connection with the springs.

It is another object to provide a method for receiving and feeding coil springs and the like into a relatively long flexible tube adapted to have its ends closed for retaining coil springs loaded tbereinto.

It is still another object to provide a method for unloading coil springs singly from a relatively long flexible tubing into which the coil springs have been inserted.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

in the drawings:

FEGURE l is a schematic View partially in section with portions enlarged for illustration purposes showing apparatus for receiving and inserting coil springs in alignment into a flexible plastic tube;

FIGURE 2 is another schematic view partially in section with portions enlarged illustrating apparatus for carrying out steps of operation in unloading coil springs irom a flexible plastic tube and inserting one or" such coil springs into a key plug adapted to utilize such springs; and

FIGURE 3 is another schematic view illustrating a plurality of the unloading apparatus of FIGURE 2 arranged to simultaneously insert coil springs into each of the coil spring compartments in a conventional key plug.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now to the drawing, the invention will be described in greater detail. Attention is directed first to FIGURE 1 in connection with which the apparatus for loading coil springs into a flexible plastic tube will be described. A machine it) which either forms or dispenses coil springs 12 has a discharge duct 14 to which is connected the inlet end of an air propelling device 16. Connected to the outlet end of the air propelling device 16 is a flexible plastic tube assembly 18 wherein the tube 2% has an internal diameter slightly larger than the external diameter of the coil springs 12; and is normally left in a coiled position during a loading-operation.

The air propelling device 16 has a series of impeller units 22, three being shown, which are coaaially aligned and are constructed substantially the same. Therefore, only the first of the series of impeller units 22 will be escribed in detail, and it will be understood that the remaining impeller units are similarly constructed and arranged. The number of such impeller units that are required depends upon the impedance of air flow through the tube 29, which will vary depending upon such factors as the dimensions and the physical properties of the tube 243, the impedance of air flow created by the coil springs, and the like. i

The first impeller unit 22 has a body portion 2a with a hollow bore as which converges at its lower end to the outlet duct 28. Threadedly connected to the body portion 2 is a cap portion C ll which has a duct 3?. coanially aligned but spaced from the outlet duct 2% to form therewith a through passageway. The cap portion projects into the hollow bore 26 at 34- and together with the body portion defines anannular chamber 36 surrounding the through passageway. The projection 34 is closely spaced to the converging lower end of the bore 26 to provide an annular passageway 38 communicating between the chamber 36 and the through passageway formed by ducts 28 and 32, The annular passageway 38 is directed toward the outlet end of the impeller unit 22 for a reason to be explained. Connected with the first impeller unit 22 is an air conduit 4%) which is in direct communication with the chamber 36 so as to introduce air under pressure thereinto. Such air can then flow at high velocity through the annular passageway 38 into the through passageway toward the outlet end of the first impeller unit 22.

The remaining impeller units 22 are similarly connected to the air conduit it and all of these impeller units 22 are suitably supported, such as by the bracket &2 in spaced relation so as to provide air escape gaps at and as, and also at 48 between the last impeller unit 22 and the annular ring 5i? connected to the inlet end of the tube Zll. Air gaps are necessary between impeller units to prevent a reversal in direction of flow air in the passageways which would occur in the absence of such air gaps because of excessive air pressures created on the downstream end of the air propelling device to relative to the upstream end thereof. These air gaps normally are arranged to becone progressively smaller with the first air gap 44 being largest and air gap 58 being smallest. This progressive arrangement is desirable, because the air pressure in the through passageways progressively increases at the discharge end of each impeller unit 22 relative to the external air pressure, and since it is desirable to eliminate the same amount of air at the gaps, they necessarily must diminish progressively in effective cross sections. Also, for the purpose of preventing snagging of the coil springs at these air gaps, the passageway edges below the air gaps may be chamfered as shown.

The flexible plastic tube 2i? is attached at its inlet end to the annular ring 59 and has a construction at its outlet end permitting passage of air therefrom while preventing passage of the coil springs 26. For this purpose a single strand of wire 52 is stretched across and is attached to the sleeve 54. A brass compression ferrule 56 and a standard ferrule nut 58, which is threadedly connected to sleeve 56, cooperate in securing the sleeve 54 on the outlet end of the tube 2%.

The operation of loading the coil springs 12 into the tube 26 is a relatively simple one. The air propelling de-. vice 16 is connected to the discharge duct 14 fromthe spring forming or dispensing machine ll? and air is introduccd through the air conduit at about eighty pounds per square ,inchrpressure. This creates a venturi eliect in each of the impeller units 22 and causes high suction effect in duct 14 and a rapid flow'of air from the duct 14 through the tube 29. Each of the impeller units 22 accelerates the passage of coil springs 12 therethrough so that the first of the coil springs 12 will travel to the outlet end of tube 2% and each of the succeeding springs will align itself in abutting relation wit the'spring immediately preceding it. As soon as the tube, which may be about twenty five feet long, is filled, the loading operation will be stopped and the inlet end or the tube Ztl can be suit ably closed. i

The tube 2%? normally is rolled into a coil when being tube 29 may be inserted into a source ellof air at about twenty pounds per square inch, and the other end of tube 2% is connected to the metering device 62 for metering one coil spring at a time through'theaxial passageway i. For this purpose a bated may be pivotally supported, and a pair of needles 68 and-7t? are connected thereto for movement to and from said passageway 6d respectively on oscillatingmovernent of said bar The needles 63 and 7b are spaced suflicientlyfar apart so that the desired number of coil springs 12 can pass therethrough per cycle of movement of the bar 66; Normally, only one spring will pass per cycle. I A

Positioned in axial alignment with the. metering device 62 is an impeller unit 72 which is constructed generally the same as the impeller units 22, previously described, and therefore, the impeller unit 72 Willnot be described in detail. As shown, air under pressure is introduced into the impeller unit '72 by the conduit '74 from a source of high pressure air. 7

Connected to the outlet of the loading or impeller unit 72 is a stainless steel tubing 76 which has its outlet positioned over a lock member 78. The latter is supported at a station 8% for holding this or similar products which require such coil springs 12. I

If desired, a group of such loading arrangements, as

shown in FIGURE 2, may be positioned in parallelso that a number of coil springs 12 can be introduced simultaneously into separate chambers of the lock member or product 78. For this purpose a fixture 8t FIGURE 3, may be used to support the group of parrllel metering devices 72 and impeller or loading units 2.

The operation of this portion of the invention is also relatively simple; The product or lock member 78 is positioned at the station 5%. The tube 2% filled with 'coil springs lZis connected to the inlet end of the metering device 62, and preferably, the other end is connected to a source so of air at about twenty pounds per square inch pressure. The air is introduced through the conduit '74 at about eighty pounds per square inch press'ure'and may coil spring 12 to pass to the impeller unit 72 which propels the one coil spring 12 to greases the intended reception chamber in'the product73 via the stainless steel tube 76.

While the invention has been described as having a plastic tube loading apparatus and an apparatus for metering and feeding coil springs from the plastic tube, it will be understood that a method'ot operation can be carried out which is continuous from the loading to the unloading of the plastic tube merely by the introduction of a transfer step of the filled tube between these two operations.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A method of feedingcoil springs from a coil spring forming machine into products adapted to utilize at least one of said coil springs, comprising the steps of discharg ing a series of coil-springs in axial alignment from said machine, guiding said series of coil springs to a relatively long plastic tube, accelerating said coil spring individualsaid tube into said product, replacing the spring loaded product with an unloaded product, and repeating the cycle of discharging a coil spring from the tube to the product and thereafter replacing the spring loaded product with an unloaded product.

2. A method of feeding coil springs from a coil spring forming machine into products adapted to utilize one or more of saidjcoil springs, comprising the steps of directing a series of axially aligned coil springs from said machine to a relatively long tube, transporting said tube to a spring loading station for said product, positioning a product in a spring receiving position at said loading station, providing communication between one end of said tube and the receiving portion of said product, releasing a coil spring for passage to said product and accelerating movement of the released coil spring until loaded into said product, replacing the spring loaded product with an unloaded product, and continuously repeatingthe cycle of loading a coil spring into an unloaded product until said tube is empty.

3. A method offeeding coil springs from a coil spring forming machine into products adapted to utilize at least one of such coil springs, comprising the steps of directing a series of axially aligned coil springs from said machine to a relatively long flexible tube, accelerating said coil springs individually immediately prior to their entry or" said tube and continuing this operation until i said tube is filled with springs positioned in end-toend relation, transporting the filled tube to a loading station for one of said products, positioning a product in a adapted to discharge such springs in end-to-end relation to products adapted to receive and utilize such springs, comprising the steps of introducing a series of axially aligned coil springs from said machine into a-high velocity air stream flowing through a relatively long tube, restricting movement of the first or" said series of axially aligned coil springs to a position adjacent the downstream end of said tubing until said series fills said tube, transferring the filled tube to a spring loading station for said prod ucts, positioning a product in a spring receiving position at said loading station, causinga high velocity air str am toilow tarough the filled tube to the spring receiving portion of said product, releasing one of said springs from said series and guiding it in the last named air stream into said product, and in continuous sequence thereafter of replacing the spring loaded product with an unloaded product and releasing another one of the springs from said series and guiding it in the last named air stream into the next successive unloaded product.

5. A method of feeding a series of coil springs positioned in abutting end-to-end relation within a tube into a plurality of products adapted to receive such coil springs, comprising the steps of positioning an unloaded product at a spring loading station, introducing air under pressure into one end of said tube to urge the coil springs from the other end of said tube, releasing the forward one of said coil springs from the series and guiding it to the receiving portion of said unloaded product, introducing air at high velocity into the guided path of said one coil spring to propel the same toward said one product, and repeating the cycle of operation until each of said plurality of products has received a coil spring.

6. A method of feeding articles such as coil springs, pins or the like into a plurality of products having chambers for receiving such articles, comprising the steps of ceding a series of said articles in abutting end-to-end relation into a moving air stream flowing into and through a relatively long flexible plastic tube, restricting movement of the first of said series to a position adjacent the downstream end of said tube until said series fills said tube, transferring the filled tube to a loading station, positioning an unloaded product at said loading station, releasing one of said articles from the forward end of said series and guiding it to the chamber of said unloaded product, introducing air at high velocity into the guided path of movement of said article to impel it to said chamber, removing the article-loaded product, and repeating the cycle of loading an article into an unloaded product until said tube is empty.

7. A method of arranging a plurality of articles such as coil springs, pins or the like in abutting end-to-end relation for storage in preparation for a subsequent feeding operation from such storage, comprising the steps of flowing air through a relatively long flexible storage tube having an internal diameter sli htly greater than the transverse dimensions of said articles, feeding a series of said articles in axial alignment into the air flowing in said tube, restricing movement of the first of said series to a position within said tube adjacent to the downstream end of said tube, moving each of the remainder of said articles sequentially through said tube by the action of said flowing air until each of such articles is stopped by and abuts against the next preceding article, and continuing this operation until the series of articles are arranged in abutting end-to-end relation Within said tube.

8. The method of claim 7 and including the step of restricting the upstream end or" said tube against passage of one of said articles after said series of articles has been fed into said tube.

9. The method of claim 8 and including the step of arranging said tube into a coil.

References Zited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,436,644 11/22 Briclren 5335 1,716,783 6/29 Latimer 5335 2,339,064 1/44 Dreyer 53-37 2,360,158 10/44 Parks 29211 2,518,970 8/50 Zabel 53 X 2,530,400 11/50 Rado 53-28 X 2,542,956 2/51 Young 29-211 2,656,592 10/53 Cataldo et al. 29446 2,795,842 6/57 Van Nest et al. 29-211 2,842,923 7/58 Kjellsen 53236 2,863,357 12/58 Peterson 29446 2,906,011 9/59 Focht 29-211 2,927,626 3/60 Corwin et al 5337 X FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

WHITMORE A. l/VILTZ, Examiner. 

2. A METHOD OF FEEDING COIL SPRINGS FROM A COIL SPRING FORMING MACHINE INTO PRODUCTS ADAPTED TO UTILIZE ONE OR MORE OF SAID COIL SPRINGS, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF DIRECTING A SERIES OF AXIALLY ALIGNED COIL SPRINGS FROM SAID MACHINE TO A RELATIVELY LONG TUBE, TRANSPORTING SAID TUBE TO A SPRING LOADING STATION FOR SAID PRODUCT, POSITIONING A PRODUCT IN A SPRING RECEIVING POSITION AT SAID LOADING STATION, PROVIDING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ONE END OF SAID TUBE AND THE RECEIVING PORTION OF SAID PRODUCT, RELEASING A COIL SPRING FOR PASSAGE TO SAID PRODUCT AND ACCELERATING MOVEMENT OF THE RELEASED COIL SPRING UNTIL LOADED INTO SAID PRODUCT, REPLACING THE SPRING LOADED PRODUCT WITH AN UNLOADED PRODUCT, AND CONTINUOUSLY REPEATING THE CYCLE OF LOADING A COIL SPRING INTO AN UNLOADED PRODUCT UNTIL SAID TUBE IS EMPTY. 